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A child expert said a toddler’s presence in an officer-involved shooting will have long-term effects if he doesn’t get help.

Tyree Bell, 31, was killed by multiple officer shots early New Year’s Day. Omaha police released the images captured by the cruiser camera of the events leading up to Bell’s death.

The images show Bell holding a 3-year-old in one arm and a gun in the other on his front steps. Moments later, Bell put the toddler inside, then walked back outside where he was fatally shot by four officers.

KETV NewsWatch 7 spoke with the toddler's mother on the phone Thursday. Levette Spracher said her son screams at night and is struggling more than her.

“My son comes to me and says, ‘Mommy, daddy's dead,’” Spracher said. “My son is going to be devastated for the rest of his life.”

Expert Gene Klein with Project Harmony agreed.

“It will have a lifelong kind of impact on anyone. The younger the child, the more difficult it is,” Klein said.

Klein said situations were children see violence is not uncommon. In fact, across the country, he said, children are being exposed to violence at a younger age. He said children exposed to violence will act out, especially younger kids who can’t use words to express their feelings.

“You may see a regression in behaviors where they're wetting beds, or clingy, or much more like a younger -- instead of 3, they're (behaving like they're) a year and a half or 2 years old,” Klein said.

Spracher said she will take her son to therapy, but she said the damage is already done.

"When children don't get help, they tend to be involved in violent crimes themselves, they tend to have more psychological or emotional problems,” Klein said.

As per Omaha Police Department policy, the officers have been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.